Book protector



1956 M. H. FENKEL 2,757,939

BOOK PROTECTOR Filed March 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

Mm PAW/([2 MK. M air ro/ f k 1956 v M. H. FENKEL 2,757,939

BOOK PROTECTOR Filed March 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3! 32 i0 INVENTOR.

E9. i W/P/P/J/A mm United States. Patent 2,757,939 BOOK PROTECTOR Morris H. Fenkel, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 6, 1953, Serial No. 340,730

1 Claim. (Cl. 281-20) The present invention relates to covers and containers for books and more particularly to a stiff box-like protector which is constructed and arranged to receive therein and support a book; the book being readable without removing the protective covering.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combination cover and receptacle for preventing damage to a book fitted within said book-protector.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a book-protector which may be detachably secured to the book to be protected thereby, and which protector need not be removed from the book in order for said book to be read.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a book cover having a portion thereof constructed and arranged to protect the exposed edges of the book-pages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a box-like protector for a book; said protector being retainable in operative connection with said book while said book is being read.

Further objects will be apparent by reference to the appended specification, claims and drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts;

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the bookprotector of the present invention placed in position around a book; said book being closed.

Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the bookprotector of the present invention in enveloping position around a book and with the book open to reading-positron.

Figure 3 represents a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 represents a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the book-protector of the present invention in open or extended position ready to receive a book there- The book-protector 20 of the present invention includes a relatively stiff box-like shell 21 which may be made of cardboard or the like of suitable thickness so as to resist flexure thereof. The box or shell 21 includes a panel 22 which is approximately the same size but preferably slightly larger than the cover 23 of the book 24 which is adapted to be placed within and protected by the bookprotector 20 of the present invention. Extending transversely to the plane of the panel 22 is a peripheral flange 25 having portions 26 and 27 extending the width of the panel 22 and a portion 28 extending the length of the 2,757,939 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 panel 22. The portion 28 is connected to the portions 26 and 27 at the corners 29 and 30, respectively, and the flange 25 is connected to the panel 22 along the outer edges of the panel. It is to be understood that the flange 25 and the panel 22 may be cut from a single sheet of cardboard or the like and suitably folded and secured to form the box-like member or shell 21.

The panel 22 and the flange 25 form a generally rigid open-sided box including the base member or panel 22 and three sides formed by the portions 26, 27 and 28 of the flange 25.

The panels 22, 26, 27 and 28 may be suitably decorated or encased, as by covering with an imitation leather or synthetic fabric or like material 31 to provide a decorative and durable surface for the rigid box-like shell 21.

A sheet of flexible, durable material (preferably the same material which protects and covers the shell 21) is folded along the longitudinal edges 32 and 33 and then along the transverse edges 34 and 35 to form an envelope 36 having a body-portion 37 of generally the same size as the projected area of the two book-covers 23 and 42 and the back 44 of the book when the covers and back are extended and lying in generally the same plane (as shown in Figures 2 and 4) and having pockets 40 and 41 formed by the flaps 38 and 39 and adapted to receive the book- 1 covers 23 and 42 therein.

- The envelope 36 is permanently secured within the shell 21 by fastening the outer surface of a part of the body-portion 37 against the inner surface of the panel 22 (as by gluing or with any other suitable adhesive).

This construction is shown particularly in Figures 4 and 5, and provides a pocket or receptacle 40 into which one cover 23 may be inserted so as to retain said book-cover within the shell 21 inside the envelope 36.

The envelope 36 extends around the back 44 of the book and across the face of the cover 42 with the last-named cover inserted into the pocket 41, as shown particularly in Figure 4.

The book 24 may then be closed, whereby to bring the cover 24 into the position shown in Figure 3, so as to lie in a plane in general alignment with the outer edge 43 of the flange 25.

Thus, the cover 42 of the book provides a closure for the box-like shell 21 with the back 44 of the book extending between the edge 45 of the portion 26 and the edge 46 of the portion 27.

A notch 49 (see embodiment shown in Figure 5) may be formed in one of the panels of the flange 25, along the edge 43, so as to make it easier to grasp the edge of the cover 42 to open the book from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2.

When it is desired to read the book, the box-like shell 21 may be placed flat upon a reading surface and the cover 42 of the book 24 turned to open position with the book exposed and lying partially within the shell 21 and lying on top of the envelope 36, as is seen particularly in Figure 4.

Merely by closing the cover 42 the book is disposed within the protective confines of the shell 21 whereby to protect the book from damage (as when dropped, or from being dirtied along the edges of the pages).

It is to be understood that the book may be reversed within the envelope 36 so that the cover 42 of the book is placed within the pocket 40 and the cover 23 of the book may be tucked within the pocket 41.

With book and protector assembled as above described, the book may be placed in reading position merely by opening the uppermost cover, and the protective shell 21 is constantly ready to envelope the book and protect it from damage merely by closing the same cover.

Although I have illustrated one method of forming the envelope 36 and securing it within the shell 21, it is to be understood that I do not mean to limit myself to the respective apertures 51 and 50 through which the booktitle, printed on the book-cover may be observed. Apertures 50 and 51 are preferably provided with a suitable transparent material, such as Celluloid, extending thereacross, through which the book-title may be viewed and which will prevent the so-exposed portions of the cover from becoming dirtied.

It is to be understood that the entire envelope 36 may be formed of transparent, flexible material which will eliminate the necessity for any fenestrating and thus simplify the construction of the envelope 36.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claim rather than to the forgoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is the following:

A book-protector including a unitary relatively flexible wrapping member formed of a single sheet and including two cover panels with the upper and lower marginal zones of said sheet folded back upon itself and with the end marginal zones folded upon itself, inwardly, to form pockets for reeciving the covers of a book, said pockets being of a width substantially less than the width of the cover panel which they overlap, a relatively rigid and non-collapsible shell joined to the outer surface of one of said cover panels of said wrapper member and overlapping and embracing the upper and lower edges thereof and the end edge thereof, said shell comprising a relatively rigid cover panel generally co-extensive with the cover panel of said wrapper member to which it is joined and integral flanges extending therefrom at a right angle thereto along the upper and loweredges thereof and along the end edge thereof, said extensions overlapping and embracing the corresponding edges of the opposed cover panel of said wrapper member when in closed position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 752,537 Eneas Feb. 16, 1904 1,207,434 OBrien Dec. 5, 1916 1,549,599 Mragodanovitch Aug. 11, 1925 1,708,813 Ware Apr. 9, 1929 1,895,018 Wolf Jan. 24, 1933 2,258,273 Barrett Oct. 7, 1941 2,361,698 MacAlister et al Oct. 31, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 552,787 Great Britain 1943 

